My Love, Darkness

Chapter 10

What T said is confusing the innocent side of her. Nagkita na ba kami dati? I can't remember. Phoebe knows to herself that she's smart and has a sharp memory. If she has seen T back then, she will know and remember even with T's body built, but no, she can't seem to remember anything about him. Perhaps, T saw her, but she did not notice him.

"I learned something about this place, Phoebe."

Napatingin si Phoebe kay T. T has an expression of loneliness in his eyes. Sa isip ni Phoebe, maaaring may pinagdaraanan ang guwardiya kaya ganito ito at sinasamahan rin siya.

She suddenly remembered her Nanny Ava. Ito lang ang nasa tabi niya noong mga oras na mag-isa siya. Her Nanny Ava has been a mother-figure to her for 3 lonely years. But those 3 years are not so lonely because of the Nanny always with her.

"I learned..." T blows a loud breath. He looks in pain. Para itong hirap sabihin sa kaniya ang gusto nitong sabihin.

"Okay lang po kung ayaw niyong sabihin. I understand that you are also sad po and having a hard time." T immediately chuckled from what she said.

"No, silly little girl," Phoebe's innocent heart unexpectedly pounded because of what T said.

The man calling him little girl made her feeling a little bit giddy. Wala sa wisyong napahawak siya sa kaniyang dibdib.

Goodness, little heart. Why are you even reacting? Am I okay?

Phoebe asks herself, but she was abrupt when T's right callous hand encircled her waist, making her more stuck to T's body.

"Little girl, this place taught me that I'm so lonely."

Phoebe's heart reacted again. Gosh, am I having a crush on my Dad's bodyguard?

Phoebe clears her throat. "Don't you have a family po?'

T shook his head. "No, I haven't. They are all dead."

Napayuko si Phoebe. Feeling guilty of asking him a sensitive question. "Oh, I'm sorry po. Sorry." Phoebe said as she raised her hand with a peace sign to T's face. T just laughed.

"Just like what I said, Phoebe." T look straight to her eyes that made her blush. "You don't need to feel guilty, I'm fine as long as I am with you, baby."

Did she hear him right? He just called her baby.

PHOEBE woke up feeling jolly. She took a bath while singing—greeting everyone who's giving her a scowling face. Phoebe shrugs as she passes them by.

Bahala sila.

Behave as she eats her breakfast. She felt excited after finishing her food. Mabilis siyang dumiretso sa kaniyang kuwarto at nilagyan ng leash si Atreus. Atreus plays with Phoebe as her dog looks like doesn't want to be leash at the moment.

Phoebe chuckles. "Come on, Atreus. You need to come with me in field."

"And where are you going, Phoebe?"

It's her Mom. Nakataas ang kilay nito habang unti-unting naglalakad papunta sa kaniya. Napatahimik si Phoebe. She misses her Mom. The way she cares and plays with her back then. It was all gone now.

"Saan ka pupunta?" Pagtatanong uli nito sa kaniya. Umiling si Phoebe. "Wa-wala po, Mommy."

"Really?" Pumeywang ito sa harapan niya. "I heard you, Phoebe. You can't fool me." Tumingin ito kay Atreus bago muling bumalik ang tingin nito sa kaniya. "Do you want me to take Atreus?"

"No! Mom, please. Don't take him away again." Phoebe eyes started to water and hug Atreus, who also hide to her chest.

Why does Mom is so rude to me?

"Then why are you lying, Phoebe?"

"Mom! I just want to play outside with Atreus." Phoebe answered and she was stunned when a stinging pang of pain landed to her cheeks.

"Outside? Gusto mo maglaro sa labas? God, Phoebe! Just how many do you want to be missing just to behave in this house? How, huh?"

Phoebe started to let her tears stream as she endured the pain and longing her parents gave to her.

She doesn't get it. The day her Mom and Dad started to treat her differently is when her little sister was born. Noong una ay pinapansin at inaalagaan pa siya ng mga magulang niya habang nasa sinapupunan pa lang ng Mom niya ang nakababatang kapatid. Everything changed since her little sister was brought home.

She remembered when she would need to beg for her Dad and Mom to give her the time and attention she wanted. She misses all of the happy things that happen when her Mom and Dad are giving her the love she wanted. She will always miss her Mom and Dad, even if they already forgot that she exists.

"Mom, I'm sorry. I'll be a good girl, just please. Don't take Atreus away."

This time, if she needs to beg just for her pets to not be taken away, she will. Milaska and Atreus is a gift from her Mom and Dad. She's been really taking care of her pets since her Mom and Dad gave them to her. And her pets are the only ones she has now. She can't keep losing them every time she needs them.

"This is the last time I'm warning you, Phoebe. Don't be a bad girl to this household. Don't give the maids a hard time cleaning your mess. You're a Rhoades. Act like one!" Her Mom snapped to her before leaving her alone to her room.

Napayuko si Phoebe habang yakap pa rin si Atreus na kasalukuyan siyang nilalambing habang dinidilaan ang mga luha sa mukha niya.

"Meow." Napalingon si Phoebe kay Milaska na bagong gising at ini-stretch ang katawan nito bago tumalon mula sa taas ng kaniyang mini-library patungo sa kaniyang kama.

"Oh, Milaska." Nilapitan niya ang pusa at niyakap ito ng mahigpit kasama si Atreus. "Thanks, God. Mom did not take the both of you away from me again."

Atreus just lick her cheeks as an answer while Milaska just yawned and started positioning herself to sleep on Phoebe's legs.

Phoebe dried out the tears left on her eyes as she fell silent for a few minutes.

Now, her Mom warned her. That means she's already grounded for leaving her room and the mansion. She needs to stay so that her precious pets will no be taken away.